U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that Israel and Hamas have agreed on the first phase of a ceasefire peace deal for Gaza. If formally approved by the Israeli government, it will pave the way for peace in Gaza, the release of Israeli and Palestinian prisoners, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Israel’s government is expected to meet at around 14:00 Jerusalem time (12:00 BST) on Thursday to approve the deal. If the agreement is ratified, the ceasefire will go into effect immediately. The U.S. has said that all remaining Israeli captives would be released on Monday if the plan is formally approved. Hamas has also agreed to the deal, which was reached following days of intensive negotiations in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh. The talks were mediated by Egypt, with the participation of Qatar, the United States, and Turkey. The breakthrough comes after days of high-level negotiations hosted by Egypt. The discussions, held in Sharm El-Sheikh, brought together delegations from Israel, Hamas, the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. Additional representatives from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the…
Israel and Hamas Agree to First Phase of Gaza Peace Deal After Talks in Egypt: Trump
October 9, 2025